Snow remover



July 10, 1962 A. B. MERRY ET AL SNOW REMOVER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.2. 1959 llllllllllllln:

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SNOW REMOVER Filed Dec. 2, 1959 3 51 1 2 INVENTORS ALBERT B.MERRY AND BYPAUL F. HASTINGS ATTORNEYS July 10, 1962 A. B. MERRY ET AL SNOW REMOVER3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 2, 1959 INVENTORS ALBERT B. MERRY AND BYPAUL F. HASTINGS ATTORNEYS nite htates Patent ()fiice attests atentedJuly 10, 1962 3,943,028 SNUW REMGVER Albert B. Merry, 5598 Forest i lvdand Paul F. Hastings, 12% Gordon Ava, hath of Spokane, Wash. Fiied Dec.2, 1%9, Ser. No. 856,758 fllaims. (Cl. 37-43) The herein disclosedinvention relates to snow removers and has for an object to provide asnow remover which will effectively remove both wet and dry snow.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a snow removerutilizing a minimum amount of power.

A still further, object of the invention resides in providing a snowblower which will not easily jam and which can handle fairly deepdeposits of snow.

An object of the invention resides in providing a snow remover havingtransverse conveyors feeding to a common locality and a blower receivingthe snow collected and discharged by the conveyors and in constructingthe device so that the snow received thereby may be discharged in anydirection without altering the direction of flow of the snow after itleaves the blower.

Another object of the invention resides in providing the blower with ahousing having a discharge spout and a rotor in said housing havingradially extending blades and in rotatably mounting the housing forrotation about an axis parallel with the axis of the rotor to presentthe spout for direct discharge in several directions.

A feature of the invention resides in disposing the blower on an inclinewith the inlet thereto facing forward- 'ty and downwardly.

An object of the invention resides in providing a restrictor plate onthe inlet side of the blower having a feed opening smaller in dimensionsthan the circle bounding the rotor blades to feed the snow directly tothe central part of the rotor and away from the outermost tips of therotor blades.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a breaker straplocated at the locality of the inlet of the blower for breaking up thesnow collected by the conveyors prior to feeding the same to the blower.

A still further object of the invention resides in laterally offsettingthe blower with reference to the frame of the snow remover.

An object of the invention resides in making one of the conveyors in twosections with a space therebetween and in providing a transmissionentering the space between said sections and driving both sections andin further providing a direct drive between one of said sections and theother conveyor.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterillustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a snow remover illustrating anembodiment of the invention,

PEG. 2 is a front elevational view of the snow blower shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1 and with the motorremoved.

PEG. 4 is an elevational sectional View taken on line 44- of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an elevational sectional View taken on line 55 of FIG. 2.

PEG. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG.1.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view taken on line 77 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view taken on line 3-8 ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 99 of FIG. 3 anddrawn to a greater scale.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken on line 1111 of FIG.2.

The snow blower shown in the drawings comprises a frame 1t) having twolongitudinal frame members 11 and 12 constructed of angle iron andarranged with the upper flanges 13 thereof horizontal and lying in acommon plane. The lower flanges 14 are spaced from one another and bolts15 extending through said flanges and through a spacer 16 therebetweenand through other means to be presently described, hold the framemembers in spaced rigid interconnected position. A plate 93 overlies theflanges 13 and is bolted thereto.

At the rearward portion of the frame 10 are rear supporting wheels 2i)which are rotatably mounted on an axle 21. This axle, as shown in FIG.4, has secured to it saddles 22 which are welded to said axle and whichare bolted to a post 23. This post is slidably mounted in a guide 24which is clamped between the two frame members 11 and 12. by means ofbolts 25. A set screw 26 is screwed into a boss 27 formed on the guide24 and engages the post 23 to hold the frame 10 in vertically adjustedposition relative to the wheels 20.

The snow blower is steered and manipulated by means of two handlebars 3tand 31 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which are bolted to the guide 24 by means ofbolts 32 and which extend upwardly and rearwardly from the frame 10.Finger grips 33 and 34- are secured to the handlebars 3t) and 31 tofacilitate handling the device. A plate 35 extending across thehandlebars 3t and 31 is secured thereto by means of screws 36 and serveto stiffen and reinforce the handlebars.

Mounted on the frame 14 is a gasoline motor 40 which rests upon theplate 93 mounted on the flanges 13 of the angle members 11 and 12., Thismotor is bolted to said flanges by means of bolts 41. The motor 40 maybe of any suitable construction such as is now well known in the art andthe description of the same will hence be omitted. The motor 40 has acrank shaft 42 and a gas tank 43 supplying gasoline to a carburetor 44and which feeds gas to the cylinder of the cylinder block 45. The crankshaft 42 has mounted on it two sheaves 46 and 47 and which drive certainof the parts of the snow remover as will be presently described.Controls for the motor extend through the handlebars 3t and 31 and areoperated by levers 37 disposed adjacent the finger grips 33 and 34 andpivoted to said handle bars.

Below the frame 10 is mounted a transmission 50, FIG. 1, which has acountershaft 51. The said transmission further includes a transmissioncase 52 and which has two halves 53 and 54 formed with flanges 55 boltedtogether by means of bolts 56, best shown in FIG. 2. This transmissioncase fits in between the flanges 14 of the frame members 11 and 12 andis provided with bearings 57 (FIG. 7) which journal the countershaft 51for rotation. These bearings in turn are journaled in bearings 58attached to the frame members 11 and 12 by welding and the entiretransmission 50 may be swung as a unit in said hearings to cause thesaid transmission to occupy the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. A bolt59 extending through the flanges 14 of the angle members 11 and 12 andthrough the flanges 55 of the case 52 hold the parts in fixed position.

The transmission 50 includes a sprocket 61 over which a chain 62 passes.This chain transmits power as disclosed in Patent No. 2,871,585 forMotor Power Unit, issued February 3, 1959, to a driven shaft 63, shownin detail in FIG. 11, which is rotatably mounted in bearings 64 weldedto the lower ends of the halves 53 and 54- of the case 52.

The invention includes two conveyors and 80, best 'for rotary movement,.Mounted within the housing 100 is arotor 110. This I-q a shown in 116.2. The conveyor 70 comprises two angers '71 which are mounted on ashaft 74 disposed on one side oftransmission 50; The conveyor 80 isconstructed in' two sections 80a and 80b. The section 80a comprises twoaugers-81 which are mounted on a shaft 84 disposed on the other side ofsaid transmission. Section 80b cornprises two angers 83 which aremounted on the shaft.74 and on the side of transmission 51} oppositesection 80a.

which straddle the housing 100. and which are bolted to the mountingplate 91 by means of bolts 124. The said Thefacing ends of'the shafts 74and 84 are constructed with sockets 75 and 85 and receive. the ends ofthe shaft 63. Pins 76 and 86 secured to the ends of the shaft 63 enterT-shaped slots 77 and 87 in the shafts 74 and 84 and hold the twoconveyors 70 and 80 attached to the.

shaft 63. The augers 71'of conveyor 70 are spaced from the augers 8 3 ofconveyor 80, as shown in FIG. 2, to provide a space 78 therebetween. Endplates79 and 89 are welded to the ends ofthe shafts 74 and 84 and to theends of the angers 71 and the augers 81. 7 Operating in conjunction withthe conveyors 7 and 80 is a blower 90. This blower is mounted in amounting plate 91 which is carried by the frame 10. Plate 91 has a vshaped tongue 92'welded to a clip angle 101 which in turn is welded tosaid plate as shown in detail in FIGS. and 6. This tongue lies upon theplate 93 secured to the flanges 13 of the frame members 11 and 12. A

clamp bar 94 having a V-shaped slot 95in the same rests 1 upon thetongue 92. 'A hook 96 issuing'from one end of r the clamp bar 94 hooksunder the flange 13 of frame member 12. The other end of said clamp barhas a flange 97 which overlies the'end of the flange 13 of frame member11. A bolt 98 extends through the flange 13 of frame member 11, theplate 93 andrthe clamp bar 94 and clamps .the' tongue 92 to the frame tohold'the upper end of the plate 91 in proper position. The plate 91 isarranged on an incline, as shown in FIG. 1, and the lower end is heldfixed to said frame by means of a bracket 99 (FIG.

- the conveyor angers 71 and 81 and which is open at-the frontto receivethe snow and which assists in directing the snow to the blower90. i

The blower 90 further includes a housing 100, best shown in FIGS. 3 and4. This housing has a back 102 and a circumferentially extendingcircular wall 103 projecting outwardly therefrom. This wall extendsthrough an opening 104 in the mounting plate 91 (FIG. 2)'w hich isdirectly opposite the space 78 between the augers 71 and 81. Overlyingthe forward surface of the mounting plate 91 is arestrictor plate 105which is attached to the plate 91 by means of bolts 106. This restrictorplate has an opening 107 in the same of a diameter less than thediameter of. the housing 100 providing a'ledge 108 upon whichthe edge ofthe wall 103 ofhousingltlh rests. By means of this construction, thehousing 100 is mounted handle 69secured to the spout 115 serves torotate the housing 100. 1

The rotor 110 is rotatably mounted in a bearing 121 secured to acrossbar 122. This crossbar has legs 123 crossbar is braced by means ofa brace 125 secured at one end to said crossbar, by means of a bolt 126and 'secured at its other end to the frame member 12 of frame 10 bymeans of one of the bolts 25. In addition, a tubular arm 127 is providedwhich is welded to the bearing 121 and extends below the frame 10 andrearwardly of the mounting plate 91. The forward end of the arm 127 hasattached to it brackets 128 which in turn en age the frame 10 and case52 as shown in FIG. 5. r

To hold the housing 100m adjusted position, a clamp screw 48 is employedwhich is screwed into a threaded boss 49 on the crossbar 122. This screwengages the back 102 of housing 1 00 and forces the circular wall 103 ofsaid housing against the ledge 108 and holds the housing from movement.See FIG. 8. 1

The blower 90 is driven by means of the following described transmission130. Mounted on the motor crank shaft 42 is a sheave 131. This sheave iin alignment with thesheave 46 on countershaft 51' and a belt 132passingover the sheaves 131 and 46 serves to drive the shaft 51.Directlymounted on the end of the arm 127 is a stub shaft 133 whichrotatably supports an idler sheave 134. The end of the arm 127 is formedwith slots 135, as best shown in FIG; 9, extending longitudinallythereof and through the wall in the same. Slidably mounted in theseslots is a support 136 which extends outwardly beyond said slotand haswelded to it a bracket 137. A stub shaft 138 is secured to said bracketand rotatably supports'another idler sheave 139. Passing around a sheave141 mounted on shaft 112 of the blower 9% about the two idler sheaves'134'and139, and about sheave 47, .is a belt 142. This belt serves todrive the rotor 110 of the blower 90. A screw 143 passes through acollar 144 disposed at the end of the arm 127 and is screwed into thesupport 136. This screw serves to move the sheave 139 longitudinally ofthe arm 127 and forms a belt tightener for the belt 142. 7

Attached to the forward portion of the flange 66 of plate 91 is ascraper blade 150. 'Overlying said flange is an incline 151 which has aforwardly projecting lip 152 resting on the flange 66 of plate 91. Bolts153 extend jointly through said lip, flange and blade and clamp theparts together. The incline 151 is further formed with a downwardlyextending flange 154 which overlies the restrictor plate 105 and afiller strip 155 overlying plate 91 and is attached to said plate bymeans of ears 156 issuing outwardly from the flanges 64 and bent overand upon the flange 154. V

In between the conveyor 70 and the conveyor and disposed in space 73is abreaker strap 145. This strap has a flange 146 bolted to the anglemember 65 by means of bolts 147. The strap 145 extends in asubstantially radial direction downwardly to the shaft 74 and breaksup-the snow packed together by the conveyors prior to entry into theblower 90. V

The operation of the invention is as follows: The two conveyors 7 0 and80 are first mounted on the driven shaft 63 and occupy the positionsshown in FIG. 2. In such position, the end plates 79 and 89rest upon theground and when rotated in the direction of the arrow, as shown 7 inFIG. 1, pick up the snow and discharge the same into the space 73between the auger 71 and the auger section 82. The snow collected by theauger section 83 is forced about the transmission case 52 where the sameis directed to the section 82. The two conveyors then discharge intothespace 78 where the breaker strap 145 breaks up the packed snowreceived from the conveyorsand which is discharged to the center of theblower through the opening 106 in the restrictor plate 105. This openingdirects the snow toward the rotor 1 10 and inwardly of the outer edgesof the blades 113. The snow on engagement with the blades 113 travels bycentrifugal force "outwardly of said blades where it is discharged intothe interior of the housing 100 and leaves the same through thedischarge spout 115. By loosening the locking screw es, the entirehousing may be rotated about its axis to cause the spout 115 todischarge in any desired direction. The blower 90 being arranged on anincline, the spout 115 will discharge the snow to either side of thepath of the snow remover and at various distances ahead of the same. Theadjustment of the leg 23 serves to raise and lower the scraper blade 150above the surface from which the snow is being removed so as to permitthe snow remover to be used on rough ground as well as paved surfaces.

The advantages of the invention are manifest. The snow remover can bemounted as an attachment on an existing power unit now on the market.Due to the fact that the snow doe not have to change its direction oftravel after leaving the blower, less power is required and a greateramount of snow can be easily handled. The device is exceedingly simplyin construction. By utilizing separate transmissions for the conveyorsand the blower, both units are caused to operate at maximum ehiciency,and the conveyors will feed the snow to the blower at the proper rate,thus assuring continuous operation under most conditions withoutattention of the operator. By discharging the snow from the conveyors tothe blower, through the opening in the restrictor plate which is oflesser diameter than the rotor, snow is prevented from being directlyforced against the outer ends of the blades and clogging of the bloweris prevented. Due to the particular rotation of the angers of theconveyors, the conveyors tend to urge the entire snow remover formovement in a forward direction, thus eliminating the necessity for apower drive for the remover. The entire remover can be quickly andeasily dismantled from the power unit when desired and the unit used forother purposes.

Changes in the specific form of the invention, as herein described, maybe made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from thespirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to beprotected by Letters Patent is:

1. In a snow remover comprising a frame, a pair of coaxial transverselyextending screw conveyors carried by said frame at the forward portionthereof and discharging toward an intermediate common locality, a blowercarried by said frame and disposed rearwardly of said conveyors at thedenoted locality thereof, said blower including a housing, a rotorhaving blades thereon and disposed within said housing, said bladesextending from the outer periphery of the rotor and toward the centerthereof and being accessible from the sides thereof facing saidconveyors, said housing having a discharge spout receiving snow from theends of said blades and discharging the same in a tangential directionrelative to said rotor, the combination of a mounting plate disposed onthe front side of said housing and supporting said housing for rotatingmovement about the axis of said rotor, a crossbar extending across saidhousing on the rear side thereof and attached to said mounting plate,and a bearing for said rotor carried by said crossbar.

2. A snow remover comprising a longitudinal extending frame, a pair ofcoaxial transversely extending screw conveyors carried by said frame atthe forward portion thereof and discharging toward an intermediatecommon locality offset from the axis of said frame, a coaxial drivingmeans for driving both of said conveyors, a blower carried by said frameand disposed rearwardly of said conveyors at the denoted localitythereof and mainly to one side of said frame, said conveyors dischargingdirectly into said blower at the center thereof, one of said conveyorsbeing formed in two sections longitudinally spaced from one another, andpower transmission means between said motor and said driving means anddisposed between said sections.

see

3. in a snow remover comprising a frame, a pair of coaxial transverselyext-ending screw conveyors carried by said frame at the forward portionand discharging toward an intermediate common locality, a blower carriedby said frame and disposed rearwardly of said conveyors at the denotedlocality thereof, and mainly to one side of said frame, said blowerincluding a housing, a rotor having blades thereon and disposed withinsaid housing, said blades extending from the outer periphery and towardthe center thereof and being accessible from the sides thereof facingsaid conveyors, said housing having a discharge spout receiving snowfrom the ends of said blades and discharging the same in a tangentialdirec tion relative to said rotor, the combination of a mounting plate,overlying said housing on the front thereof and attached to said frame,means carried by said mounting plate and supporting said housing forrotating movement about the axis of said rotor, a U-shaped cross barextending across said housing on the rear side thereof and having legsstraddling said housing and attached to said mounting plate, a bearingfor said rotor carried by said cross bar and means carried by the crossbar for clamping said rotor to said mounting plate.

4. A snow remover comprising a longitudinally extending frame, a pair ofcoaxial transversely extending screw conveyors carried by said frame atthe forward portion thereof and discharging toward an intermediatecommon locality ofiset from the axis of said frame, a motor mounted onsaid frame and having a transverse driving shaft, a power transmissionhaving a driven member with a transverse axis parallel to the axis ofsaid motor shaft, and driven by said motor shaft, said transmissionhaving a driving member with an axis parallel to the axis of said motorand driving said conveyors, a blower carried by said frame and disposedrearwardly of said conveyors at the denoted locality thereof and mainlyto one Side of said frame, said conveyors discharging directly into saidblower at the center thereof, one of said conveyors being formed in twosections transversely spaced from one another, said power transmissionbeing disposed between said sections and simultaneously driving both ofsaid conveyors.

5. A snow remover comprising a longitudinally extending frame, a pair ofcoaxial transversely extending screw conveyors carried by said frame atthe forward portion thereof and discharging toward an intermediatecommon locality offset from the axis of said frame, a motor mounted onsaid frame and having a transverse driving shaft, a pulley on said motorshaft, coaxial dn'ving means driven by said motor shaft for driving bothof said conveyors, a blower carried by said frame and disposedrearwardly of said conveyors, said conveyors discharging directly intosaid blower at the center thereof, said blower having a rotor and apulley for driving said rotor and coaxial therewith, idlers disposedbeneath the pulley on said motor and rearwardly of said blower, and abelt passing around said motor pulley, downwardly therefrom, about saididlers, then laterally and finally about the rotor pulley.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,577,561 Chiles Mar. 23, 1926 1,587,449 Wandscheer June 1, 19262,092,536 Sicard Sept. 7, 1937 2,478,009 Pool Aug. 2, 1949 2,587,415Vanvick Feb. 26, 1952 2,610,414 Vanvick Sept. 16, 1952 2,653,701 HethSept. 29, 1953 2,692,445 Darnell Oct. 26, 1954 2,777,218 Kiecker et a1.Jan. 15, 1957 2,802,287 Bevan Aug. 13, 1957

